March 24, 2010

Morning Wrap

David Ogden on Life at DoJ: Former Deputy Attorney General David Ogden discussed his regrets and accomplishments at American University on Tuesday, in his first public talk since leaving the department. Ending the Ted Stevens prosecution was "painful," he said, according to our report by Mike Scarcella here.

Hauling Health Reform to Court: Thirteen states joined in a challenge to the new health care reform legislation almost before the ink was dry on President Obama's signature. But one D.C.-area figure, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II, decided to go it alone, as thisWashington Post story notes.

Liu's Day on the Hill: Goodwin Liu, President Obama's controversial nominee for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, goes before the Senate Judiciary Committee today for his confirmation hearing. Republicans are ready to oppose him, even though Liu arrives with the backing of the likes of conservatives Kenneth Starr and John Yoo, as the Los Angeles Times reports here.

Mini-NLRB: How many members does it take to keep the National Labor Relations Board running? That was the question before the Supreme Court Tuesday as it grappled with the legitimacy of decisions made by a board that has only two of its five allotted members on board. Our Marcia Coyle reports here, and Slate's Dahlia Lithwick offers her take here.

Roller Coaster Ride: In sibling publication The Legal Intelligencer, reporter Shannon Duffy tells the story of a copyright verdict that has, through the appeals process, gone from $18 million to $1.7 million, and then back up again to a possible $30 million, including interest.